Antoinettia kovariki (Skelley) Skelley, 2020

Skelley, Paul E., 2020, A new Central American genus of pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) from the Ischyrus-Megischyrus complex, Insecta Mundi 2020 (804), pp. 1-11 : 6

Antoinettia kovariki (Skelley) , new combination

Figures 2–3 , 17–21 .

Ischyrus kovariki Skelley 1998: 39 .

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species in the genus by its color pattern which lacks a humeral spot and by the modified virga of the flagellum, swollen in appearance, with large dorsal accessory structure at middle, structure with distal cup and proximal hook. Known from Belize.

Description. Length: 3.7–6.1 mm; width: 2.0– 3.1 mm. Body elongate, widest at basal third of elytra; microreticulate, feebly glossy; yellow with black pattern ( Fig. 17, 19 ).

Head yellow. Pronotum with basal and lateral margins black ( Fig. 20 ); centrally with 2 black basal projections that almost reach the anterior margin; anterior margin with 2 small spots. Scutellar shield black. Each elytron with yellow epipleural fold; entire lateral and sutural edges black; anteriorly placed free central and apical spots; apical spot often touching suture. Prosternum yellow except for black sternal plate ( Fig. 18 ). Mesoventrite mostly yellow; posterior edge black. Metaventrite mostly yellow, black along mid-line. Abdomen yellow except for black medial spots on the posterior edge of all ventrites. Female genitalia show no remarkable characters ( Fig. 3 ). See Skelley (1998) for the full description and illustration of male genitalia ( Fig. 21 ).

Variation. The apical elytral spots are generally free and the same size as the central spots. Some specimens have the apical spots are larger and broadly touch the sutural margin. Ventrally the size of the black markings varies, but they are always present.

Material examined. The male holotype of Ischyrus kovariki label data: “ BELIZE: Orange Walk / Dist., Rio Bravo Cons. / Area, Well Tr. vct. Well / 19-VII-1996; P. Kovarik / under bark of log” // “[red paper, handwritten] HOLOTYPE / Ischyrus / kovariki Skelley ” ( FSCA). The female allotype has same data as holotype, only a blue allotype label. Paratypes (20): same data as holotype (8 FSCA) ; same as holotype except “… Rd. to Well Trail , 16.VII.1996, …” (12: CMNO, FSCA, NHMUK, USNM) ( Skelley 1998) .

Other specimen. “ BELIZE: Orange Walk / D., Rio Bravo Cons. Area / Hdqtrs, 20-VII-1996, / UVtrap, L.B.O’Brien” (1 FSCA).

Etymology. Named for the collector of the type series, Peter W. Kovarik.

Remarks. The male genitalic flagellum is uniquely modified and is the only known erotylid with such a modification on the virga.

Figures

Figures 1–6. Miscellaneous structures of Antoinettia Skelley, new genus.1) A. audbala (Skelley), holotype, ventral head and prosternum. 2) A. kovariki (Skelley), holotype, ventral head and prosternum. 3) A. kovariki (Skelley), allotype, female genitalia. 4–6) A. huhnei Skelley, new species. 4) Antenna, holotype. 5) Ventral head and prosternum, holotype. 6) Ventral view of elytra with abdomen removed to show brachypterous wings of this species, paratype from El Progresso.

Figures 17–21. Antoinettia kovariki (Skelley), holotype except as noted. 17) Dorsal view. 18) Ventral view. 19) Lateral view. 20) Anterior oblique view. 21) Genitalia, paratype, arrow points to uniquely modified flagellum.